Friday Patriots Notebook 4/3: Free Agent Updates, Patriots Work Out WR, More
Ridley is still exploring his options in the free agent market.
A quick rundown of this morning's top stories:
Former Patriots DL Antwine Honored Thursday:
The team recognized one of their best defensive players this week, although many fans likely aren't aware of who he is since he's a guy who played for the team in the 1960's into the early 1970's.
New England inducted defensive lineman Houston Antwine into the Patriots Hall of Fame on Thursday, with a nine-member committee of senior sportswriters and team officials among those who voted in favor of the move. Antwine is tied for 10th all-time on the club with 39 career sacks with former Patriot Richard Seymour.
Antwine was chosen posthumously as he passed away at the age of 72 back on December 26, 2011. According to a prepared statement by owner Robert Kraft, he'll be honored later this summer with an induction ceremony.
"For those of us who grew up watching the Boston Patriots, we applaud the senior selection committee's choice," Patriots' owner Robert Kraft said in a prepared statement. "In the 1960s, the defensive tackle tandem of Houston Antwine and Jim Lee Hunt was as good as any in the league. Houston's play helped push the Patriots to our first division championship in 1963.
"I had the good fortune of hosting Houston and his wife, Evelyn, at my home in 2009 when we honored the Patriots' 50th Anniversary Team," he continued. "It was a thrill for me to hear his stories about those early days in Boston. I look forward to hosting his daughter, Regina, when we honor her late father later this summer for his induction ceremony."
Ridley Visits With Jets, Connolly Visits Bucs:
According to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald, free agent running back Stevan Ridley spent Thursday night in New York visiting with the Jets as he continues exploring his options.
Ridley had visited Miami on Wednesday, but for now it seems he's yet to receive a contract offer. He's coming off of a torn ACL that he suffered last season that forced him to undergo knee surgery.
If he went to New York, he'd be up against Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, although looking closer it seems Miami might be a better option for him as he'd be paired with Lamar Miller. The Patriots are still limited at running back with just LeGarrette Blount and Jonas Gray as the lead backs after Shane Vereen left the team via free agency. The only issue that might affect that decision may be that Ridley might not get the opportunity to prove himself enough here with enough carries in order to land a larger deal at the end of the season. Either way, for now he remains on the market.
Meanwhile, according to Tampa Bay Online, fellow free agent Dan Connolly was in Tampa on Thursday visiting with the Buccaneers. Adding him into the mix there would reunite him with former Patriots' guard Logan Mankins, who was traded to Tampa Bay before the start of the season.
If the Buccaneers signed him he would project as a starting guard for the team, which is looking for an upgrade over 2014 starter Patrick Omameh as they try and strengthen their line in the likely anticipation of drafting Jamis Winston in the upcoming NFL Draft.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- USA Today has a series with prospects providing insight into the draft process, with Jamison Crowder's latest one running and revealing that he recently had a private workout with New England.
- According to NESN.com, Patiots defensive lineman Sealver Siliga signed the Patriots exclusive-rights free-agent tender. Siliga was tendered by the team before the start of free agency back on March 10th, although terms of the deal haven't been disclosed.
- With former Colts receiver Reggie Wayne still out on the market, ProFootballTalk.com reports that the receiver still plans to play in 2015 and that one team that could be a potential landing spot for him is New England as Bill Belichick has always been full of praise for the veteran receiver's route-running.
- ESPN's Mike Reiss reports that Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio were at the University of Maryland's Pro Day on Thursday, with Reiss highlighting some players they may have been checking out including a couple of receivers.
- Per the Boston Globe, Bob Kraft and Patriots Matthew Slater and Rob Ninkovich were at the Marriott Copley Place on Thursday night for “Game Day Gala,” a benefit for Team IMPACT, which builds relationships between college sports teams and kids with life-threatening and chronic illnesses. Ninkovich was busy this week, as he also spent the night before with Jerod Mayo and Nate Solder, who were each out supporting former Pats player Matt Light at the 2d annual Fools’ Night Out benefit for the Light Foundation.
- According to the Boston Herald, Tom Brady was busy shooting his latest UGGS commercial on Thursday, with the veteran quarterback spending the day at the Harry Parker Boathouse on the banks of the Charles River for the shoot. UGG’s gave Pats fans a sneak peek behind the scenes of the shoot, and they live-streamed some of it on Twitter’s new Periscope app yesterday.
- And Finally, Rob Gronkowski recently appeared on Showtime with Jim Rome and talked about a variety of topics including the type of woman who would be his ideal wife. You can see the video below to hear what Gronk had to say:
